CIRCLE’s new fact sheet provides a 50-state breakdown of volunteering rates for teenagers, young adults, and the population over 25. Vermont, Utah & North Dakota show the highest rates; New York and Nevada among the lowest

Tisch College, Tufts University. – Fewer high school age (16-18) Americans stepped up to volunteer their time over the past two years, new research reveals. Traditionally, teenagers have volunteered at slightly higher rates than other age groups, but in 2007 people 25 or older were more likely to volunteer than were those 16 to 18.

These are some of the findings from a study examining youth volunteering trends from 2002 to 2007 released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University’s Tisch College. The research presents volunteer rates by state and age groups calculated using the Current Population Survey (CPS), a joint product of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.

Overall trends showed a 6 percentage point decline in volunteering among 16-to-18 year-olds since the rate peaked in 2005 at 33 percent. Meanwhile, volunteer rates for the population aged 19-to-25 (18 percent) and 25 years and older (28 percent) both changed very little (2 percentage points or less) since 2002.

Volunteer rates were found to vary tremendously across states and age groups, and to change from year to year. The state rates for 16-to-18 year-olds ranged from a high of 48 percent to a low of 14 percent in 2007, while in 2002 the high was 52 percent and the low 16 percent. The states with highest and lowest rates also differed for this age group. In 2007 the highest were Oregon (48 percent), Vermont (47%), Alaska and Utah (44% each). The top states in 2002 were Montana (52%), Iowa (48%) and Maryland (47%). The states with the lowest rates in 2007 were Nevada (14%),;West Virginia (15%); and New Mexico and Kentucky (18%). In 2002, Mississippi and the District of Columbia (16% each) and Tennessee (17%) were the lowest.

The state rates for college-age adults (19-to-24 year-olds) were generally lower, and again with different states leading the pack and bringing up the rear in 2002 and 2007. In 2007 the highest rates were in Utah (30%), North Dakota (29%), Maine and Washington State (28% each) and the District of Columbia (27%). While in 2002, the top states were Utah (36%) and Missouri (34%). The states with the lowest rates in 2007 were New Jersey (8%), Tennessee and Delaware (9% each). The bottom in 2002 were Massachusetts (11%), and Nevada, Tennessee and Indiana (13% each).

For the 25 and older cohort, the state volunteer rates and those with the highest and lowest rates remained relatively unchanged from 2002 to 2007. Rates in 2007 ranged from a high of 43 percent in Utah to a low of 19 percent in Nevada, Florida, New York and New Jersey. In 2002, Utah again led the pack at 49 percent and New York, Florida and Nevada had the lowest rates at 22 percent.

The study also examined the state policies impacting youth volunteering, which many researchers believe have an impact on the levels of volunteering for 16-to-18 year-olds. A Corporation for National and Community Service study found the public schools that make community service available has grown from 64 percent in 1999 to 68 percent in 2008, but those that meet the criteria for “service-learning” has declined from 32 percent in 1999 to 24 percent. Furthermore only two states, Maryland and the District of Columbia, have made volunteering a mandatory requirement to graduate from high school. Eight other states (AR, CT, DE, IA, MN, OK, RI and WI) allow service-learning activities to be counted towards high school graduation credit.

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36 Responses to “Downward Trend in High School Volunteering”

[…] CIRCLE placed an observative post today on Youth Volunteering in the States: 2002 to 2007Here’s a quick excerptAccording to a new fact sheet released by CIRCLE (download the PDF ), the volunteering rate for Americans of high-school age (16-18) has now declined for two years. It is three percentage points lower than it was in 2002 and six percentage points lower than the highest rate seen in 2005. Although short-term changes in the rate of volunteering should be interpreted with caution, and with a larger historical context in mind, it is a concern that our nation’s youth are now less likely to voluntee […]

I really believe that high school kids should either work or volunteer. When kids have idle time is usually when they have problems and they get in trouble. Hopefully more kids try to do things for there community but I doubt it especially in inner cities.

Kids these days are really missing out. There is nothing more important than helping one another. There is no better way then with volunteering. Its something I have done and it really makes you feel good, like you made a difference.

Today at the movieswhile I was waiting for the movie to start I read the article and love it. Children are the future and anything that we can do to support them and enrich there live should be indeed everyone priority and joy.

Many kids in my area are very involved with the community especially volunteering. I myself haven’t had much time for it but I look forward to making some time and hopefully making a difference in someones life.

It is so sad to know that they are so many kids lacking the proper support. What I really mean is we need to show them the way and inspire them to get active and get involve in the community. It is so easy to criticize and do nothing. work from home scam reviews

Many kids in my area are very involved with the community especially volunteering. I myself haven’t had much time for it but I look forward to making some time and hopefully making a difference in someones life.

Many kids in my area are very involved with the community especially volunteering. I myself haven’t had much time for it but I look forward to making some time and hopefully making a difference in someones life.

I believe high school kids should work part time such as a party hire business. When kids work part time they earn pocket money. They then have the opportunity to save for the future or do things for the community by donating monies earnt.

School kids could also help the community by organizing school fetes, fundraisors, etc. The could hire equipment such as the bucking bull, bucking penis, bouncy castle, slushee machines, fairy floss machines, etc.

They lack interest because they have limited awareness about important happenings/events around their society. Since, older people are already working, they know much more about real life situation that we are all experiencing right now.